Computer Mouse

If your finger is tired of turning the wheel in the middle of a computer mouse to roll through a page, press down on the scroll-wheel button. Arrows appear and you scroll just by moving the mouse up and down. Click the scroll wheel again to return to normal scrolling. The trick works on many Web browsers and in long documents in some versions of Microsoft Word. Firefox users have another shortcut with the scroll-wheel button: Click on a link to open that link in a new browser tab.

CLERMONT---A seventh-grader at Windy Hill Middle School was arrested Monday after placing in a restroom a loud noise-making device he created using a computer mouse and a digital recorder, authorities said. Hundreds of students were evacuated from the school after the device was discovered in a bathroom stall by students shortly after 2 p.m., Lake Sheriff's Sgt. John Herrell said. After the device was deemed harmless by investigators, students and faculty returned to the school about 3 p.m. The 14-year-old student, who was not identified because of his age, told investigators that it was a prank.

CLERMONT -- A seventh-grader at Windy Hill Middle School was arrested Monday after placing in a restroom a loud noise-making device he created using a computer mouse and a digital recorder, authorities said. Hundreds of students were evacuated from the school after the device was found in a bathroom stall by students about 2 p.m., Lake sheriff Sgt. John Herrell said. After the device was deemed harmless by sheriff investigators, students and faculty returned to the school. The 14-year-old student told investigators that it was a prank.

CLERMONT -- A seventh-grader at Windy Hill Middle School was arrested Monday after placing in a restroom a loud noise-making device he created using a computer mouse and a digital recorder, authorities said. Hundreds of students were evacuated from the school after the device was found in a bathroom stall by students about 2 p.m., Lake sheriff Sgt. John Herrell said. After the device was deemed harmless by sheriff investigators, students and faculty returned to the school. The 14-year-old student told investigators that it was a prank.

PHOENIX - Hoping to appeal to young computer-savvy voters and raise interest in their party's presidential primary, Arizona Democrats plan to hold what elections experts say will be the first binding Internet balloting for public office. Choosing candidates from home with a simple click of a computer mouse could boost turnout for the March 11 primary, though some worry about the potential for fraud. To vote online from home, voters would complete a form printed from the party's Web site, choose a personal identification code, sign it and mail it to the party.

CLERMONT---A seventh-grader at Windy Hill Middle School was arrested Monday after placing in a restroom a loud noise-making device he created using a computer mouse and a digital recorder, authorities said. Hundreds of students were evacuated from the school after the device was discovered in a bathroom stall by students shortly after 2 p.m., Lake Sheriff's Sgt. John Herrell said. After the device was deemed harmless by investigators, students and faculty returned to the school about 3 p.m. The 14-year-old student, who was not identified because of his age, told investigators that it was a prank.

For the second year, Edgewater High students are creating an alternative yearbook that will come to life with a click of a computer mouse.It's a CD-ROM version that will chronicle the school year in a different way.Instead of flipping the pages of a book, students will use a computer mouse to jump from clubs to sports to senior photos.But there's more.Students who click on the photo of a coach end up in sports, where they can pick the team of their choice for a closer look. They can see and hear, for example, a video clip of the boys' basketball team going for a fast break.

Instruction booklets are usually pretty forgettable. In fact, I rarely read them. Then somebody showed me the instructions to Microsoft's basic mouse. Now, a mouse is an integral part of a computer. But even a first-timer can figure one out in about 30 seconds or so. But to Microsoft, the mouse is more than just a gizmo. It's more than just serious business. It's a lifestyle. Most of the 27-page booklet was devoted to the basics: how to connect the mouse, how to clean it and, of course, how to avoid carpal tunnel syndrome.

After reading Susan Strother Clarke's report in the Money section ("Ergonomic guidelines are at hand," Aug. 11), I can only say that this is further proof we are becoming a nation of whiners. The angle seems to be that, if the nasty old Republicans don't pass some more idiotic laws, there will be no end to these poor wimps' suffering. Hogwash. If the computer is too taxing to use for drafting, get out the T-square, drawing board and pencils. That's how I learned to do it. Or better still, go out and grab a pick axe and shovel.

Employer: The Mark Travel Corp.Employees wanted: Vacation sales agents to work with clients over the phone handling requests for vacation packages for Southwest Airlines, Fun Jet and US Airways.When jobs available: Immediately. Three-week paid training classes begin Monday, Nov. 16, Dec. 7 and Dec. 14.Where jobs available: Orlando near Florida Mall.How many people needed: 88 full- or part-time workers and 120 seasonal employees to work January through March.Salary range: Starts at $7.50 an hour for weekdays, $8.50 an hour on weekends, with a chance for a salary increase within three months.

If your finger is tired of turning the wheel in the middle of a computer mouse to roll through a page, press down on the scroll-wheel button. Arrows appear and you scroll just by moving the mouse up and down. Click the scroll wheel again to return to normal scrolling. The trick works on many Web browsers and in long documents in some versions of Microsoft Word. Firefox users have another shortcut with the scroll-wheel button: Click on a link to open that link in a new browser tab.

After reading Susan Strother Clarke's report in the Money section ("Ergonomic guidelines are at hand," Aug. 11), I can only say that this is further proof we are becoming a nation of whiners. The angle seems to be that, if the nasty old Republicans don't pass some more idiotic laws, there will be no end to these poor wimps' suffering. Hogwash. If the computer is too taxing to use for drafting, get out the T-square, drawing board and pencils. That's how I learned to do it. Or better still, go out and grab a pick axe and shovel.

Instruction booklets are usually pretty forgettable. In fact, I rarely read them. Then somebody showed me the instructions to Microsoft's basic mouse. Now, a mouse is an integral part of a computer. But even a first-timer can figure one out in about 30 seconds or so. But to Microsoft, the mouse is more than just a gizmo. It's more than just serious business. It's a lifestyle. Most of the 27-page booklet was devoted to the basics: how to connect the mouse, how to clean it and, of course, how to avoid carpal tunnel syndrome.

Like the quest for a better mousetrap, the search for a better computer mouse goes on. Consider the optical mouse, which uses light beams instead of the familiar ball on the underside of the typical mouse. A trio of optical mice from Atek Electronics and Logitech could mean a smoother experience for PC users. Unlike a conventional mouse, these devices don't need a mouse pad. They are designed to operate on nearly any surface, even on the leg of your jeans. And they don't require cleaning, because there's no ball to pick up grit and gunk.

PHOENIX - Hoping to appeal to young computer-savvy voters and raise interest in their party's presidential primary, Arizona Democrats plan to hold what elections experts say will be the first binding Internet balloting for public office. Choosing candidates from home with a simple click of a computer mouse could boost turnout for the March 11 primary, though some worry about the potential for fraud. To vote online from home, voters would complete a form printed from the party's Web site, choose a personal identification code, sign it and mail it to the party.

QUESTION: I recently received a phone call around dinner time from what I'm sure was a telemarketer, but when I picked up the phone, there was no one on the line. Why would a company do such a thing?ANSWER: You're probably right that it was a call from a telemarketing company. If so, what you experienced was what the industry calls ``a misprogrammed predictive dialing telemarketing call.'' Most telemarketing companies use automatic dialers to place calls for their agents. The dialers call out on more lines than there are available agents, but things usually work out because so many calls either are not answered or are picked up by answering machines.

QUESTION: I recently received a phone call around dinner time from what I'm sure was a telemarketer, but when I picked up the phone, there was no one on the line. Why would a company do such a thing?ANSWER: You're probably right that it was a call from a telemarketing company. If so, what you experienced was what the industry calls ``a misprogrammed predictive dialing telemarketing call.'' Most telemarketing companies use automatic dialers to place calls for their agents. The dialers call out on more lines than there are available agents, but things usually work out because so many calls either are not answered or are picked up by answering machines.

Like the quest for a better mousetrap, the search for a better computer mouse goes on. Consider the optical mouse, which uses light beams instead of the familiar ball on the underside of the typical mouse. A trio of optical mice from Atek Electronics and Logitech could mean a smoother experience for PC users. Unlike a conventional mouse, these devices don't need a mouse pad. They are designed to operate on nearly any surface, even on the leg of your jeans. And they don't require cleaning, because there's no ball to pick up grit and gunk.

LAKE BUENA VISTA - When Jay Schiller lost his left forearm and hand to an electrical accident 10 years ago, he thought he would never play the saxophone again.Today, there is hope.As a test subject for a revolutionary bionic arm called the Tendon Activated Pneumatic hand, Schiller showed off the device Saturday by playing parts of Mary Had a Little Lamb on a keyboard at Walt Disney World's Epcot park.And it was all thanks to science.``Having individual fingers may someday give me that opportunity again to play the saxophone,'' said the 28-year-old Princeton, N.J., chemist.

Employer: The Mark Travel Corp.Employees wanted: Vacation sales agents to work with clients over the phone handling requests for vacation packages for Southwest Airlines, Fun Jet and US Airways.When jobs available: Immediately. Three-week paid training classes begin Monday, Nov. 16, Dec. 7 and Dec. 14.Where jobs available: Orlando near Florida Mall.How many people needed: 88 full- or part-time workers and 120 seasonal employees to work January through March.Salary range: Starts at $7.50 an hour for weekdays, $8.50 an hour on weekends, with a chance for a salary increase within three months.